My 365 Day Ebay Challenge Day 124 - End of May Report

Here are the "scores on the doors" after the first four months of My 365 Day Ebay Challenge .

Sales to date (net of postage and Ebay fees)

Total - £ 173.01

Stock

345 vintage postcards - cost price £ 20.70

(I actually got around to counting them properly this time which explains the slight increase in value over last month!)

Various model kits/militaria - cost price approx £ 15.00

Airfix box set - cost price £ 3.99

Total - £ 39.69

Based on the above, the initial £ 100 stake is now worth £ 212.70

Steady progress given the little amount of time I have to spare due to work commitments.

This Sunday (6th June) there is another free listing day on Ebay. Once more I am planning to take advantage and get several lots listed up. I am thinking of selling the remaining vintage postcards in several fair sized lots to clear them.

This may not necessarily be the way to get the highest price but it will enable me to reinvest in stock which is easier/quicker to turn around such as model kits. I have identified several lots of model kits which I will be bidding on over the next few days. If I am successful in winning any of the auctions I will keep you posted.

My 365 Day Ebay Challenge Day 100 - This week's auctions

Day 100 of My 365 Day Ebay Challenge and I thought I'd give you all an update on a few of the items I have listed for auction this week...

This week's "star" item is the above postcard album which I have filled with vintage postcards dating from the 1900's to the 1950's. The album has already attracted a bid at the auction starting price of £ 9.99 and has a large number of watchers (some of whom will hopefully later become bidders!).

Please click here to see the auction and further photos of the album.

A few weeks ago I bought a job lot of militaria from a chap in East Malling, Kent which included a number of plastic model kits such as the 1/72 scale Afrika Corps pictured above. These plastic model soldiers are popular with war gamers.

Apart from the Afrika Corps soldiers, I have also listed a set of World War II RAF personnel and a set of World War II USAF personnel.

Links to these auctions can be found here...

Afrika Corps

RAF Personnel

USAF Personnel

The majority of this week's auctions are due to end on Sunday and I will post an update then (if not before).

My 365 Day Ebay Challenge Day 79 - Success at last!

This evening I have finally managed to win an auction for another empty vintage postcard album after numerous attempts over the last few weeks.


For some reason empty vintage postcard albums have been selling at silly money recently on Ebay and as the primary aim of My 365 Day Ebay Challenge is to make some money, I have had to duck out of many auctions.


The seller is located quite close to me so I am hoping to pick it up on Sunday, fill it with around three hundred of the remaining vintage postcards I have in stock and list it up for sale on Ebay as soon as possible.


This strategy worked well last time I tried it so I am hoping for another profitable result.

My 365 Day Ebay Challenge Day 63 - End of March Report

Yes I know it's April now but I've been a bit busy!


Here is a quick postion update on My 365 Day Ebay Challenge as at the end of March...


Sales to date (net of postage and Ebay fees)


Total - £ 107.29


Stock

Approx 300 vintage postcards - cost price £ 18.00
Various model kits/militaria - cost price approx £ 25.00
Airfix box set - cost price £ 3.99

Total - £ 46.99


Based on the above, the initial £ 100 stake is now worth £ 154.28


On the purchasing side of the equation, I have bid on another two empty vintage postcard albums this evening. So far I have not had any luck winning any auctions for albums at a sensible price.


I am keeping my fingers crossed.

My 365 Day Ebay Challenge Day 46 - Lots of items listed

Over the last few days I have concentrated on getting a number of items listed up for sale including some of the new militaria and model kits stock.

This weekend (20th/21st March) is another free listing day so I will try and get some more items listed up then to take advantage of the promotion.

On the buying side, I am still trying to purchase another empty vintage postcard album. I still have several hundred vintage postcards to sell that I bought a few weeks ago. I found that by presenting the cards in a contemporary album, they sold for a premium.

Here are links to the auctions that I currently have running....

Vintage Postcards

24 x Vintage German Cards

HMS Kingfisher

Nostalgia Cards

24 x Vintage London Cards

7 x Tucks Cards

Model Kits

Airfix HMS Belfast

Airfix Coastal Defence Fort

Italeri Dakota

AIM Supermarine Spitfire PR Mk XIX

Militaria

Bren Gun Magazine

Band of Brothers DVD Box Set

Royal Tournament Souvenir Brochure 1979

Royal Tournament Souvenir Brochure 1990

War Picture Library action comic

My 365 Day Ebay Challenge Day 38 - Update

Just a quick update on my Ebay activities since the beginning of this month.

On 1st March the vintage postcard album sold for a total of £ 45.45 including postage but taking into account the Ebay listing and Paypal fees.

This was a good result as the album and cards it contained only cost £ 19. I am now actively looking out for more empty vintage postcard albums as I still have another 300 + vintage cards remaining in stock and I am sure that they will sell for a better price in an album than loose.

Last weekend, I drove out to East Malling in Kent to pick up a lot of model kits and assorted militaria (the best way to describe it!) including some Bren gun magazines and a steel helmet of unknown origin.

Yesterday I received the Airfix model kit in the post. Unfortunately the seller had skimped on the packing and it arrived looking like it had gone ten rounds with Ricky Hatton :-(

The seller will get a suitably worded feedback pointing out the error of his ways!

Despite the condition of the box, the item should still sell for a reasonable profit.

I will try to post up some pics of this new stock later this week.

Update of the financial and stock position as of today....

Sales to date (including the album)

Total - £ 84.11

Less postage and Ebay final value fees

Total - £ 22.19

Balance

Total - £ 61.92

Stock

Approximately 340 vintage postcards - cost price £ 20.40

Various model kits/militaria - cost price £ 51.00

Airfix box set - cost price £ 3.99

Total - £ 75.39

Based on the above, the initial £ 100 stake is now worth (on paper at least), £ 137.31.

I'd better not rush off and book the world cruise just yet but it is going in the right direction.

My 365 Day Ebay Challenge Day 29 (part 2) - Listing & Buying

Further to my earlier post , I have had a busy few days on Ebay.

Last night I listed up some more of the old postcards that I bought earlier in the Challenge. Here are a few pictures to give you an idea.....

Vintage views of Plymouth.

Cards produced by the British Museum.

Royal Navy Patrol Boat - HMS Kingfisher

Very early 1900's postcards of London

If you would like to follow this weeks postcard auctions, the links are here...

Vintage views of Plymouth

Nostalgia Postcards

Tuck's Postcards - York / Durham

British Museum Natural History Cards

Vintage London Postcards 1900's - 1950's

HMS Kingfisher

Apart from listing the cards up yesterday, today I have been back on the buying trail to get some new stock lined up for future sale.

This morning I bought a very unusual lot which I came across by accident whilst looking for something else. I have bought a job lot of model kits and, what I can only describe as, military paraphernalia!

The lot consists of a steel helmet of unknown origin, some ammunition pouches, some Bren gun magazines, some webbing, various war film DVD's, some Royal Tournament brochures, a complete Churchill's World War II and various other items.

This is a complete move away from the sort of things that I normally sell on Ebay but I suppose if I stick with what I find safe, it won't be much of a challenge!

I am hopeful that the helmet and some of the other items will be worth decent money but I haven't taken too much of a punt as the model kits alone should resell at £ 30 or so and I only paid £ 51 for the lot.

The seller is located just up the road so I'm planning to pick the items up next weekend and I will post up some pictures.

This evening I bought an Airfix box set of three model aircraft kits that the seller had listed in the wrong category for a total cost of £ 3.99 including postage. If he'd listed them in the correct category I would probably have had to pay at least £ 10 for this item.

My 365 Day Ebay Challenge Day 29 - Selling

It has been a busy finish to the first month of My 365 Day Ebay Challenge.


Firstly, a number of the auctions I had running ended at the weekend and I am pleased to say that all the items listed sold despite it being a fairly slow week on Ebay.


Here are the figures for the sales with paypal/listing fees deducted but still including postage charges -


3 x bulk lots of 1950's - 1970's postcards - £ 19.13


Heller Vampire model kit - £ 10.17

Heller Thunderjet model kit - £ 4.88

Heller Sabre model kit - £ 4.48


Total - £ 38.66


The position at the end of February is roughly as follows -


Remaining cash from the initial £ 100 fund = £ 20.32

Sales to date = £ 38.66 (as detailed above)


Total - £ 58.98


From this total will need to be deducted my postage costs for the items and Ebay's final value fees. Final value fees are Ebay's commission on items sold through their site and are invoiced separately on a monthly invoice.


I still have remaining "in stock" approximately 540 (mainly vintage) postcards including 200 in the vintage postcard album. The auction for the album is ending this evening and at last check was at £ 26.00 with many watchers in the wings.

My 365 Day Ebay Challenge Day 26 - Auction Update

Just a quick update on some of this weeks auctions.

Two lots of vintage postcards (total 285 cards) have been sold to a gentleman in Bedfordshire bringing in a total revenue of £ 11.70. From this total I have to deduct Ebay listing fees, final value fees and postage.

The auction for the Heller Vampire model kit is due to end in about an hour and is progressing nicely.

A bid has been received for the Heller Sabre model kit and there are a large number of watchers (potential bidders) for the vintage postcards album with 200 cards. The bidding, at time of writing this post, stands at £ 9.99

Generally speaking, this has not been a good week on Ebay for sales.

You can follow the current auctions here....

Heller Vampire model kit

Heller Sabre model kit

Heller Thunderjet model kit

Job lot 175 x vintage postcards 1950's - 1970's

Vintage postcard album with 200 postcards 1900's - 1950's

My 365 Day Ebay Challenge Day 21 - Album Selling Models Listed

Day 21 of My 365 Day Ebay Challenge and I am pleased to report that shortly after I listed it, the vintage postcard album received it's first bid. There are still another eight days to run on this auction.


This evening I have listed up the remaining two vintage model kits. The auctions end next Sunday. If you would like to follow these auctions, here are the links -


F-84 G Thunderjet model kit


F-86 F Sabre model kit


On the purchase side of the equation I have my eye on one more lot. It is another album of postcards but this time more specialised on one particular subject.



I don't wish to say too much at the moment in case I alert other bidders. This auction ends tomorrow evening. If I am successful in winning it, I will reveal all.

My 365 Day Ebay Challenge Day 19 - Album Listed Up

This evening I have been feverishly slotting cards into the vintage postcard album ready for listing up.

As I mentioned previously, Ebay have been running a two day free listing promotion and I wanted to take advantage of it.

Normally when I am listing up an item I only include one picture to keep fees to a minimum but in the case of the postcard album I have included several different ones.

I believe on this occasion it will be necessary to include the additional pictures if I am to sell the album at the best possible price.

This evening I have also listed up one of the set of three model kits that I purchased.

I am also pleased to report that the first bid has been received on one of the bulk lots of 1950's - 1970's postcards that I listed up earlier in the week.

If you would like to follow the progress of my auctions on Ebay - or even bid on an item yourself, here are the links to my current listings.....

Job lot 150 x postcards 1950's - 1970's

Job lot 135 x postcards 1950's - 1970's

Job lot 175 x postcards 1950's - 1970's

Vintage postcard album with 200 cards

Vampire model kit

If you have enjoyed reading this post why not leave a comment? They are always very welcome.

My 365 Day Challenge Day 17 - More Stock Arrives

The postman has been working overtime today. First to arrive was the empty vintage postcard album which I bought on Ebay for £ 7. I am pleased it has arrived as Ebay have a free listing promotion running until midnight tomorrow (Friday 18th February).

This evening I've been sorting through the old postcards to find suitable ones to go in the album. I am hoping that they will sell for a better price if they are presented nicely in the album rather than sold as a job lot of loose cards. The proof of the pudding will be in the eating!

I'm intending to get the album listed up on Ebay tomorrow evening. For those who may be unfamiliar with Ebay, items can be listed up for 3, 5, 7 or 10 days - there is no difference in the listing fees.

I am going to put the album on a 10 day listing firstly to get maximum exposure and secondly so that the auction ends at the beginning of March and importantly after buyers have had their February pay cheque.

Later in the day, the postman returned with a parcel containing the three vintage Heller model kits that I bought on Ebay for £ 12.68 including postage.

I will get these kits listed up tomorrow, probably on a ten day listing. I am quite optimistic the kit of the Vampire in particular will go well as it is rare and sought after by model kit collectors due to the colourful box top artwork.

My 365 Day Ebay Challenge Day 15 - Sorting out the cards

This evening I've continued to sort out the vintage cards that I picked up over the weekend.

I'm starting with what I perceive to be the least valuable of the cards - the ones from the 1950's to 1970's.

I'm hanging on to the cards from the 1900's - 1930's to sell at a later stage.

I have sorted out three initial jobs lots of approximately 150 cards each and was planning to list them for sale on Ebay this evening.

However, when I checked my e-mail there was a message from Ebay saying there will be two free listing days this week - Thursday and Friday. I am therefore going to hold off and take advantage.

It is always worth keeping an eye out for these kind of Ebay promotions which seem to occur fairly frequently nowadays. After all a penny saved is a penny earned as they say!

With a bit of luck, the vintage postcard album that I bought over the weekend may turn up by Friday and I can put some of the old Edwardian cards in it and get it listed for free as well.

I am thinking of starting the auction for the album at about £ 19.99 as this seems to be the going rate for a decent one.

My 365 Day Ebay Challenge Day 14 - More stock!

After a very barren couple of weeks of failed attempts to win any auctions at all, I can't seem to stop winning them this weekend.

As part of my strategy to sell the postcards which I picked up on Saturday for the best possible price, I decided a few days ago to keep my eyes open for an empty vintage postcard album in which to place some of the cards.

I have noticed that some albums containing vintage cards have been selling at fairly healthy prices lately, sometimes in excess of £ 100.

Anyway, today I managed to buy a vintage album with space for up to 200 cards for the princely sum of £ 7 including postage from deepest darkest Wales.

The current plan is to put some of the best cards into this album and sell the remainder in another four of five separate lots. I am hoping to list up the first lot for sale on Monday.

My good luck did not end with the postcard album....

This afternoon, on the off chance, I thought I'd have a quick browse through the model kits listed on Ebay. Lo and behold, I saw an auction with about seven minutes left to run for three vintage Heller plastic model kits.

A couple of years ago, I acquired a large lot of about thirty of these vintage French made model kits and did very well with them as they are quite sought after by collectors.

I managed to win the auction at a total cost including postage of £ 12.68.

One of the kits alone should sell for £ 10 - £ 12 - going on past experience.

My total expenditure on stock so far is £ 79.68 leaving a further £ 20.32 available for new purchases.

If you are interested in vintage model kits, please visit my blog here!